Valentine’s Day 2023

This is going to be a short one.

Just like last year, the Super Bowl interfered with my Valentine’s Day baking!

Haha, I did get to make mini cupcakes:

And chocolate chip bars:

I also made some low fat strawberry cookies with white chocolate chips.

They were not pretty at all, but at least they were yummy!

And that was it. Can you believe it??

Don’t worry, I felt sad for about 5 minutes…

And then I started dreaming up some new desserts for spring– and totally forgot about the Valentine’s day desserts!

Now I’m off to bake. 🙂

Christmas Desserts 2021

I love to spread Christmas Cheer in the form of cookies, chocolates– and lately, also hot cocoa.

I make a few different types of cookies each time, to add to some of my usual stuff. This year, I added these:

Chocolate Covered Oreos

Mini Elf Bites (Shortbread with sprinkles)

White Chocolate Peppermint Snowflakes

Mixed Berry Thumbprint Cookies

Chocolate Almond Biscotti

And just like every other year, I ended up exhausted. And happy.

But this year, for the first time in many, many years– I realized I’m doing too much. I end up with no time to do more fun stuff with my kids– like watching Christmas movies, going to see Christmas lights, etc.

I made 46 hot cocoa boxes (these included 21 total teachers and bus drivers):

Ten chocolate boxes:

Ten sugar cookie boxes:

And about 35 plates of 15 types of cookies (including those above):

Don’t get me wrong– I love to do this. But I need to scale down a little to enjoy more of the Christmas season with my family.

Believe it or not, it was the hot cocoa boxes that took me the most time. I made all the little designs with my Silhouette, and it took forever (since I’m new to all that). Plus, I made stickers and designed the Christmas tree tag myself.

So, no hot cocoa boxes next time.

What else should I cut down on?

I’m not sure, because I’m already dreaming up more types of cookies!

Lol, we’ll see what happens when next November comes around.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, and Happy 2022!

Valentine’s Day 2021

I can’t believe I haven’t posted anything for Valentine’s Day for 3 years now!

This year wasn’t as hectic as usual because we are home anyway, but I still managed to run out of time!

I made these Linzer Cookies:

I also tried out these mini shortbread cookies and my kids liked them.

My husband wasn’t too sure if he liked them, but still kept eating them and called them “addictive.”

I think that’s a good sign!

And finally, I made these low fat cake bars:

But everyone was so stuffed from eating heart-shaped pizza (our annual tradition), that they could barely eat dessert. 😦

And to think that I had great plans to make even more!

Oh well, I’ll just have to make more desserts for the next holiday. (At least that’s what I always promise myself.)

As for last year, here’s what I made:

And here was 2019:

And now I’m caught up on Valentine’s Day!

Hope you had a great one. ❤

Valentine’s Desserts 2016

I love making Valentine’s Day desserts!

They are soooo pretty.

I love these cute baking cups!

I had great plans for these brownies, but ran out of time as usual.

So I made frosting and piped a quick outline.

I took them to my son’s class and the kids loved them, so I guess they’re not too bad.

These are my favorite mini heart cakes with white chocolate chips (and they’re low fat!!)

Did you know you can entertain an 8-year old for a long time if you let him put chocolate chips in each bite-sized cake, for several batches?  😉

And I made Rice Krispie Treats dipped in chocolate.

I promise they were adorable, but my husband decided he needed to take the good camera to Hawaii with him.

Hawaii over Rice Krispie Treats???

Well, I had to use the little camera– hence this awful picture:

The quality of this picture makes me want to cry. But at least we have good pictures of a luau and a whale tail jumping in the bay! 😛

And finally, these little M&M cookies.

And that’s it for now- see you soon!

Valentine’s Desserts 2015

I realize I’m always making excuses for not baking more.

So I’m not going to mention the usual craziness…

I will only say that my sinuses have been kicking my butt for 6 weeks.

Yes, 6 full weeks and still going.

But I forced myself to make at least something for the kids for Valentine’s Day!

Here are my low fat sugar cookies:

 

And chocolate-dipped pretzels:

And since that was all I was able to accomplish, I quickly made some heart-shaped waffles for breakfast:

And eggs with a heart cut out!

That’s all.  

Hopefully once I feel better, I’ll be back with more stuff.

Wish me luck!  🙂

Low Fat Chocolate Chip Yogurt Cookies

I’M BACK!!

Moved to Alabama 3 weeks ago and still living out of boxes.

But… I finally found all my baking supplies, so I can bake again!!  Yay!

I had some yogurt in the house and saw this recipe, so here are some yummy low fat cookies!

I have to be honest with you– this one makes me want to eat my computer screen…

I actually got annoyed by the recipe because it called for mini chocolate chips, and I’m not a fan.  I prefer to have big chunks of chocolate.

I thought they were trying to cut down on the fat by adding very few itty bitty chocolate chips.

I was angry at the cookbook. 

I almost rebelled and put regular chocolate chips—and more of them!

But at the last minute, I noticed I had exactly ½ cup of mini chocolate chips (what a coincidence, huh?)

So I used it.

And interestingly, I was glad I did. 

Look at all the yummy chocolate chips!

I guess I can be a rebel next time.  🙂

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Low Fat Chocolate Chip Yogurt Cookies (by Pillsbury)

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Beat sugar, butter, and shortening until light and fluffy.

Add yogurt and vanilla; blend well.

Stir in flour, baking soda and salt.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake at 375°F for 8-12 minutes, or until light golden brown.

Dessert Medley

I’m a total cheater.

Yes, you heard right.

I’m showing you some of my old desserts because I have no time to make any new ones.

OK, I’m lying.

I did make a new dessert– a cake for my son’s birthday the other day.  But it had to be quick, so nothing elaborate and not worthy of an entire post.  A balloon cake!  (Yes, I will be making more interesting cakes for his birthday party…)

And here are some Strawberry Cake Balls (shown way larger than actual size):

By the way, I’m moving.

Yes, gathering the family and thousands of pounds of furniture and stuff and moving to… (see the Cheddar Cheese Muffins before you go on)…

Alabama!!

In 11 days.

No, I’m not lying this time.

And here are some football brownies, completely unrelated to any other dessert in this post:

So instead of baking, I’ll be working until the day before the move, packing and stressing out… 

You can probably note the stress in the complete randomness of this post.   🙂

And here are some Low Fat Biscuits, just because:

Wish me luck!

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Low Fat Raspberry Cookies

Let me start off by saying that these cookies were originally named
“Raspberry Strippers.” 

I couldn’t call them that without laughing (how mature), so I changed their name.

Just had to share that.

So anyway, here they are:

I’ve made these cookies many times, and they never disappoint.

They are easy to make, bite-sized, and yummy!

They’re also low fat, which makes them even more appealing (at least to me).

I thought I was finally done with the craziness of the holidays, but now it’s time to get ready for New Year’s Eve!

We eat lots of appetizers for New Year’s Eve (or hors d’oeuvres if you want to sound fancy), so small cookies would be fun, too!

OK, I’m not saying big cookies aren’t fun.

All cookies are fun.

But I was just trying to make a point.

Never mind…  go make these cookies!  🙂

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Low Fat Raspberry Cookies (adapted from Cooking Light)

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 5 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 large egg white
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Cooking spray
• 1/3 cup raspberry preserves (I use jam instead)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Beat granulated sugar and butter with a mixer at medium speed until well-blended (about 5 minutes).

Add 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla and egg white; beat well.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt, stirring well with a whisk.

Add flour mixture to sugar mixture, stirring until well-blended. (Dough will be stiff.)

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Roll each portion into a 12-inch log.

Place logs 3 inches apart on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.

Form a 1/2-inch-deep indentation down the length of each log using your index finger or end of a wooden spoon. Spoon preserves into the center.

Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove logs to a cutting board.

Immediately cut each log diagonally into 12 slices. (Do not separate slices.) Cool 10 minutes.

Combine powdered sugar, lemon juice, and almond extract; stir well with a whisk. Drizzle sugar mixture over logs.

Transfer slices to wire racks. Cool completely.

Light Maple Cupcakes

So it’s autumn, and maple cupcakes sounded like the perfect dessert!

But what can one possibly say about light maple cupcakes?

They are light.

They taste like maple syrup.

They are cupcakes.

That’s all. 

Ha ha, ok,  I can also say that they’re delicious.

Oh, and I made them even lower in fat by using egg whites and skim milk.

They didn’t even make it to the taste-testers, because everyone at my house loved them so much.

And I’m surprised the frosting made it to the cupcakes after I tasted it–but we don’t need to talk about that.  🙂

And interestingly, a couple of the cupcakes decided to hide in the back of the fridge. 

By the way, did you know that little kids can’t reach the back of the fridge?

Just an observation.  😉

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Light Maple Cupcakes (adapted from Cooking Light)

Cupcakes:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 5 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon maple extract
• 3 egg whites
• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

Beat first 4 ingredients at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 5 minutes).

Add egg whites, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife.

Combine flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk.

Combine milk and 1/4 cup maple syrup.

Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix after each addition.

Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups lined with paper liners.

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Frosting:

• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon imitation maple flavoring
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1-3/4 cups powdered sugar

Beat 3 tablespoons maple syrup and next 4 ingredients (syrup through 1/8 teaspoon salt) at medium speed of a
mixer for 1 minute.

Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating just until blended (do not overbeat).

Spread over cupcakes.

Low Fat Soft Pretzels

OK, I didn’t actually “make” these pretzels… my husband did most of the work.

But I get a lot of the credit…

1. I gave him the recipe and asked him to make them (yes, I was tired that day).
2. I gave him all the necessary ingredients and tools to make them.
3. I ran to the rescue when he put my stand mixer on high, and there were only dry ingredients in the bowl—and then all over the counter. 
4. I shaped them when they started looking all contorted.
5. I laughed when it took him like 17 hours to make them (story to follow below).

But the most important thing is that they were delicious.

We were all kind of surprised as we looked at each other and inhaled an entire pretzel each.

And we were even more surprised when I calculated that each was only 123 calories and 1 gram of fat!!

This was their shape before I stepped in…

So why did they take 17 hours to make?

Well, my 3-year-old wanted to help.

He’s lovingly referred to as our “delay fish.”  (Like in Nemo.)

Everything we do with his help takes waaaaay longer to do.

So by the time they had made the mix, shaped the pretzels (my son only did one—which needed lots of shaping and reshaping for some reason), and boiled them—it was time for bed.

So the pretzels went in the fridge until the next day. 

It wasn’t until about noon that we finally got to bake them.

But it was worth the wait!!

The end.

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Low Fat Soft Pretzels (adapted from Pillsbury)

• 3 to 3 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour, divided
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 (1/4 oz.) package active dry yeast
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon shortening
• No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 6 cups water
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Pretzel salt

Combine 1 cup flour, sugar, salt and yeast in medium bowl. Blend well.

Heat 1 cup water and shortening in small saucepan to 100° to 110°F. Add liquid to flour mixture. Blend at low speed of an electric mixer until moistened. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed.

Stir in by hand an additional 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 cups flour or until dough pulls cleanly away from sides of bowl.

Knead in 1/2 to 3/4 cup flour on floured surface, until dough is smooth and elastic.  Place in greased bowl. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and cloth towel. Let rise in a warm place (80° to 85°F) until light and doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

Spray 2 cookie sheets with no-stick cooking spray.

Punch down dough and divide into 12 pieces.  Roll each piece into a 16-inch rope and form into pretzel shape.

Place on prepared cookie sheets. Cover and let rise in warm place about 15 to 20 minutes.

Adjust oven rack to top position. Heat oven to 400°F.

Combine 6 cups water and baking soda in a shallow sided saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and slowly drop pretzels into water, one at a time, cooking 15 seconds on each side. Remove from water with slotted spoon.

Return to cookie sheet. Sprinkle with pretzel salt.

BAKE 10 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheet.

Light Lemon Cookies

I was away at a farm cottage this past weekend.

Great fun with friends, lots of relaxation, and no baking! 

I know, it was tough.  🙂

But before we left for the weekend, I made these cookies to bring with us:

I’ve made these many times now, and they’re awesome.

They’re tasty, and lemony, and light, and soft… And the best part?

They don’t try to sabotage my baking.  Ever!!

I definitely recommend them.

I make them fairly small, and got a batch of 44.

Are you ready for this??  They were 64 calories and 2 grams of fat each.

I know, I almost fell out of my chair too.

Oh, but there’s one problem- they go fast.

So I recommend you hide some for yourself.

Don’t worry, I won’t tell.  😉

 

Light Lemon Cookies (adapted from Cooking Light)

Cookies

• 1/2 Cup granulated sugar
• 7 Tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/3 Cup honey
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
•  1 large egg
• 1-3/4 Cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup plain fat-free yogurt

Beat sugar and butter at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add honey, extract, and egg; beat until well blended

In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.  Stir with a whisk.

Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with yogurt (beginning and ending with flour mixture).

Drop 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Glaze

• 1 Cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice

Stir powdered sugar and lemon juice with a whisk.

Brush over cookies.

Low Fat Butterscotch Bars

I think I’m crazy.

This whole blogging thing is crazy.  

Ever notice that I don’t post fancy, difficult-to-make desserts?

That’s because I have no time.  I barely have time for the simple desserts.

I bake when I should be sleeping.  Stuff like these butterscotch bars:

I’m thrilled that they’re low fat.

And they’re really yummy, which is awesome.

But back to the craziness…  there’s the picture taking, the writing…

Well, if you’re anything like me, you get mesmerized by pictures of yummy food.

So… I wonder if I actually need to spend time thinking of stuff to write in these posts, or if I can type anything and get done quickly.

Wow, maybe I’m onto something.

OK, let’s try. 

Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah, blah blah blah.

Did you even notice?  Hmmm…

Wow, I must be really tired.  🙂

 

Low Fat Butterscotch Bars (adapted from Cooking Light)

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butterscotch chips

Beat sugars and butter at medium speed until well-blended (about 4 minutes).

Add egg whites and vanilla; beat well.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt; stir well with a whisk.

Add flour mixture to sugar mixture; beat at low speed just until blended.

Spread batter evenly into an 8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with butterscotch chips.

Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pan on a wire rack.

Angel Food Cake with Fat Free Icing

I made this for my birthday recently, because I wanted  a low fat cake.

Otherwise, I’d only have a bite– and how fun would my birthday be if I only had a bite of cake??

Everyone else in the family voted for buying an ice cream cake, because apparently it’s the thing to do on one’s birthday if you’re in my family.  (Note- that’s one’s ACTUAL birthday, as opposed to one’s birthday party, when the thing to do is have me bake countless birthday desserts.)

Anyway, I really really cheated—which is quite acceptable on one’s birthday.

I made the cake with a box mix (UUHHH!!)

I didn’t care if the icing dripped down unevenly (WHOA!!!)

And I’m still posting it on my blog (GASP!!!)

I’m such a rebel.  🙂

But the icing came out really tasty! Yay!

Oh yeah, and remember all those people who wanted ice cream cake instead?

Yeah—I had to stop them at thirds.

 

Fat Free Icing

• 2 C powdered sugar
• 4 T skim milk
• ½ t vanilla extract

Mix together.  Add more milk if it’s too thick.

Yes, that’s it!!

Oh, and add pretty food coloring if you’d like.  🙂

Low Fat Flan

Flan and me.  We go way back.

I grew up eating flan—but the kind in a box that you add milk to.

But now it was time to make the real deal:

This flan was seriously good.  There was a commotion in my house when we were down to the last one.

And the toddler won.

Of course, I always end up doing something ditzy when I bake (unplanned, of course).

I forgot to spray the cups, so some of the sugar got stuck to them and there’s not that much on the flan itself.

But that’s ok, it was still delicious.

And it gives me an excuse to make it again.  Plus, I want to make it even lower fat next time.

Of course, you probably won’t see the improved sugar-on-the-flan, or lower-fat-flan pictures, because how weird would it be if I kept posting pictures of flan over and over?

Really weird.

 

Flan (adapted from Cooking Light)

Caramel Sugar:

• 1/3 Cup sugar
• 3 Tablespoons water

Combine sugar and water in small saucepan over medium-high heat (it will boil).

Stir frequently until sugar dissolves. Continue cooking until golden (about 4 minutes).

Coat custard cups with cooking spray, and then pour caramel sugar into them– tilting until the sugar coats the bottom.

Set aside.

 

Flan:

• 3 large eggs
• 1 large egg white
• 2 Cups skim milk (the original calls for 2%- it’s up to you)
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 Cup sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Beat eggs and egg white with a whisk.

Stir in vanilla, sugar, and salt.

Divide among custard cups.

Place cups in a 13×9 inch baking pan and add 1 inch of hot water to pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Remove from pan, cover, and chill for 4 hours.

 

Low Fat Chocolate Cookies with Chocolate Chips

My friend Dana asked why I don’t have recipes on my blog. 

And a few minutes later, she emailed me a recipe.

Hmmm…

So I made the cookies, and here they are! 

They are low fat and have hidden mini chocolate chips in them.

No, they don’t taste low fat.  Seriously.

And yes, they are good.

And they are gone.

They went really fast.

They are actually drop cookies, like the ones below, but they didn’t look pretty enough for me, so I flattened half of them.

I have to say though– the drop cookies seem to have a better texture than the flat ones.  So if you decide to make these, I recommend doing it just as the recipe says. 

The kids loved them.

My husband, on the other hand, didn’t say anything.

So I waited.  And I worried.

And then he confessed to stuffing 6 of them in his mouth while I wasn’t looking.

Not bad.

 

Low Fat Chocolate Cookies with Chocolate Chips

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg white
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup miniature chocolate chips

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars together with an electric mixer until creamy.

Add egg white and vanilla and mix until well blended.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder.

Gradually add flour mixture to egg and sugar.

Use a spoon to work the dough together. Don’t worry if the dough seems a little crumbly at first.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop cookie dough by the teaspoonful on to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat if you have one.

Bake at 350 for 7 minutes.

Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.